Seeking Compensation for Burn Injuries: Steps to Take
Seeking compensation after a burn injury can be scary and stressful. You might be out of work or have medical expenses. What if you can’t get the compensation you need? Finding the right burn injury attorney Los Angeles is a great start and will get you there. What else needs to be done to ensure the best outcome for your case? We have the answers.
Have You Had the Burn Looked at by a Medical Professional?
A severe burn might require more in-depth treatment, such as surgery or skin grafts. The amount of damage may also depend on the type of burn. Is it a chemical or an electrical burn?
If the burn is minor, you might opt for some home treatment.
A medical professional should treat any type of burn. Proceed with caution if you choose to use home treatments.
Keep Records
Whatever your case, keeping documentation is a good idea.
- Record how severe your pain is
- If you have any lasting marks or blisters
- Any medication you may have to take
- Any medical treatment you receive
- If some kind of appliance burned you, try to keep the remains of it, if it’s safe.
Keeping the item that burned you (if any) can help with a couple of things. First, if the doctor knows what burned you, they may have a better idea of how to treat it. Second, having the item can help determine what caused the burn.
Know What Type of Burn You Have
Knowing what type of burn your burn injury falls under will also benefit your case.
- First-degree burns: damage to only the outer layer of skin
- Second-degree burns: damage to the outer layer and the layer underneath
- Third-degree burns: destroyed or extreme damage to the deepest layer of skin and tissues underneath
Don’t Sign Anything or Accept Money from an Employer Before Speaking to a Lawyer
This step only applies to those that received a work-related burn injury.
Signing any statement or accepting money from your employer before a lawyer is brought in could be harmful to your case. Doing any of the two actions could limit your lawyer’s ability to get you as much compensation as you deserve.
Recordkeeping is everything when trying to get compensation for a burn injury. Be as thorough as you can, and make sure everything is as accurate as possible. Failure to do so could result in you not getting any compensation or receiving less than you deserve.…